Top 10 Writing Tutor Certifications

Certifications are important for writing tutors in the job market because they demonstrate a level of professional expertise and experience. They show that the tutor has gone through rigorous training and is qualified to provide writing instruction. Certifications also provide proof to employers that the tutor has met certain standards and can be trusted to do a good job. Additionally, certifications can help a tutor stand out from other applicants who may not have them, increasing their chances of getting hired.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Writing Tutors and explains how they can help to further a writing tutor's career.

What are Writing Tutor Certifications?

Writing tutor certification is a type of professional training that equips individuals to provide tutoring services in the area of writing. It is typically offered by organizations, universities, or other educational institutions and provides individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to help students improve their writing. By obtaining writing tutor certification, professionals can gain the credentials needed to work as a writing tutor in both academic and non-academic settings.

Writing tutor certification can help those who wish to become professional tutors in the field of writing by giving them the necessary skills and qualifications for the job. Through this type of certification program, individuals learn how to effectively assess a student's level of writing proficiency, design appropriate lesson plans for each student's individual needs, and provide feedback on written assignments. They also learn how to evaluate student progress and suggest strategies for further improvement. This type of certification prepares professionals for providing effective instruction in all aspects of writing, from grammar and sentence structure to organization and style.

Overall, obtaining writing tutor certification can be beneficial for those seeking employment as a professional tutor in the field of writing. It provides them with the necessary credentials required by employers, as well as an understanding of how to effectively teach students at various levels. In addition, it helps individuals gain confidence in their teaching abilities so they can successfully assist students with their writing needs.

Pro Tip: Before taking a tutor certification course, make sure to do your research and find a course that is recognized by the organization or institution you plan to work for. This will help ensure that you have the proper skills and qualifications necessary for tutoring.

Related: What does a Writing Tutor do?

Top 10 Writing Tutor Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Writing Tutors today.

1. Certified Professional Writing Tutor (CPWT)

Certified Professional Writing Tutor (CPWT) is a certification program designed to help writing tutors develop their skills and become more effective in helping students improve their writing. It is offered by the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA), an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in writing instruction.

The CPWT program consists of three levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. To obtain the Basic level certification, applicants must complete a five-hour online course and pass a written exam. The Intermediate level requires completion of an additional five-hour online course and passing a written exam. Finally, the Advanced level requires completion of an additional ten-hour online course and passing a written exam.

In order to get certified as a CPWT, applicants must submit an application form along with payment for the appropriate fees for each level of certification. The fees are $50 for Basic, $100 for Intermediate, and $200 for Advanced levels of certification.

Once all requirements have been met, applicants will receive their official certificate from IWCA within four to six weeks after submitting their application form.

2. Certified Academic Writing Tutor (CAWT)

Certified Academic Writing Tutor (CAWT) is a certification program that provides professional development and recognition to tutors who specialize in helping students with their writing. The CAWT certification is awarded by the National Tutoring Association (NTA).

The CAWT program requires completion of two courses: one on the fundamentals of academic writing, and another on the best practices for tutoring writing. These courses are offered online, and typically take between 8-12 hours to complete. Upon successful completion of both courses, participants will receive a certificate from the NTA certifying them as a Certified Academic Writing Tutor.

To get certified as a CAWT, you must first become an NTA member. Membership fees vary depending on your profession or student status. After becoming an NTA member, you can then register for the two required courses and pay the associated course fees. Course fees vary depending on whether you are an NTA member or non-member; members typically pay $50 per course while non-members pay $75 per course.

Once you have completed both courses and received your certificate, you will be eligible to use the CAWT designation after your name and market yourself as a Certified Academic Writing Tutor.

3. Certified Creative Writing Tutor (CCWT)

Certified Creative Writing Tutor (CCWT) is a certification offered by the National Tutoring Association. It is designed to recognize tutors who have achieved a high level of proficiency in teaching creative writing. The certification requires tutors to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in teaching creative writing through an online assessment, which includes multiple-choice questions and essay prompts.

The CCWT certification process takes approximately two months to complete, depending on the individual’s availability and completion of the required assessment. To get certified, applicants must first register with the National Tutoring Association and pay a nonrefundable fee of $175. After registration, applicants will receive access to the online assessment which they must complete within three weeks. Once they have completed the assessment, they will be notified of their results within two weeks.

If an applicant passes the assessment, they will be awarded the Certified Creative Writing Tutor designation and receive a certificate of recognition from the NTA. If an applicant does not pass, they may retake the assessment after six months for an additional fee of $75.

Overall, getting certified as a Certified Creative Writing Tutor requires a total cost of $250 ($175 for registration plus $75 for retaking the assessment if needed).

4. Certified English Language Arts Writing Tutor (CELAWT)

Certified English Language Arts Writing Tutor (CELAWT) is a certification program offered by the National Tutoring Association (NTA). This certification is designed to help tutors become more knowledgeable in the English language and writing. It provides tutors with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively teach students of all ages and levels.

The CELAWT program consists of two parts: an online course and a proctored exam. The online course covers topics such as grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, writing styles, and editing techniques. It also includes practice tests and quizzes to help prepare for the proctored exam. The proctored exam is a multiple-choice test that assesses a tutor’s knowledge of English language arts writing.

The CELAWT program typically takes about six months to complete, depending on how quickly you can complete the online coursework and study for the proctored exam. To get started, you must first register with the NTA website and pay a registration fee of $125 USD. After registering, you will be able to access the online course materials which are available 24/7 so you can work at your own pace. Once you have completed all of the course requirements, you will be eligible to take the proctored exam which costs an additional $75 USD.

Once you have passed both parts of the CELAWT program, you will receive your official certification from NTA which will allow you to advertise yourself as an officially certified English Language Arts Writing Tutor!

5. Certified Technical Writing Tutor (CTWT)

Certified Technical Writing Tutor (CTWT) is a certification program designed to help individuals become more effective technical writing instructors. The program is offered by the Society for Technical Communication (STC). It provides an in-depth look at the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful technical writing instructor.

The CTWT program consists of two parts: an online course and an in-person workshop. The online course covers topics such as instructional design, teaching techniques, assessment methods, and other related topics. The in-person workshop includes hands-on activities and discussions with experienced technical writing instructors. Participants are expected to complete both parts of the program within one year.

To get the CTWT certification, you must first complete the online course and then attend the in-person workshop. After completing both components, you will receive your certification from STC.

The cost of the CTWT program varies depending on whether you take it through STC or through another organization offering it. Generally speaking, it costs around $1,000 for both components of the program when taken through STC.

6. Certified Business Writing Tutor (CBWT)

Certified Business Writing Tutor (CBWT) is a certification program for professionals who want to become certified business writing tutors. The certification is provided by the International Association of Business Writing Professionals (IABWP). It is designed to help business writing professionals develop their skills and knowledge in teaching, coaching, and mentoring others in the field of business writing.

The CBWT certification program consists of two parts: an online course and an on-site assessment. The online course consists of six modules that cover topics such as grammar, punctuation, structure, tone, and style. Participants must complete all six modules before they can take the on-site assessment.

The on-site assessment consists of a series of written tests and practical exercises that test the participant's ability to teach business writing. Participants must pass all tests with a score of 70% or higher in order to be certified as a CBWT.

It typically takes about 8 weeks to complete the CBWT certification program. To get started, participants must register for the program through IABWP's website and pay a fee of $395 USD. This fee covers both the online course and the on-site assessment.

Once participants have successfully completed both parts of the program, they will receive their official CBWT certificate from IABWP. This certificate will serve as proof that they are qualified to teach business writing courses or work as business writing tutors or coaches.

7. Certified College Composition Writing Tutor (CCCWT)

Certified College Composition Writing Tutor (CCCWT) is an online certification program designed to help college students become better writers. It is a comprehensive course that covers the fundamentals of writing, grammar, and composition for college-level courses. The course includes modules on topics such as sentence structure, paragraph development, essay organization, research methods, and more.

The CCCWT program takes approximately 8 weeks to complete. During this time, students will be required to complete assignments and take tests in order to demonstrate their mastery of the material covered in the course. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a certificate indicating they have successfully completed the CCCWT program.

In order to get certified as a CCCWT tutor, students must first register with an accredited provider of the program. After registering with a provider, students can then begin their studies and complete all required assignments and tests in order to earn their certification.

The cost of the CCCWT program varies depending on which provider you choose to register with. Generally speaking, it costs between $400-$800 USD for the entire 8-week program.

8. Certified Advanced Placement Writing Tutor (CAPWT)

Certified Advanced Placement Writing Tutor (CAPWT) is a certification program offered by the College Board that provides tutors with the skills and knowledge necessary to help students prepare for the AP English Language and Composition Exam. The program consists of an online course, which takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete, as well as an in-person practicum. During the practicum, tutors will be evaluated on their ability to effectively teach AP writing strategies and techniques.

To get CAPWT certified, tutors must first register for the course on the College Board website. Once registered, they will have access to all of the materials needed for completion of the course. Upon successful completion of both the online course and practicum, tutors will receive their certification from the College Board.

The cost of CAPWT certification varies depending on where you live and how you choose to take it. For those taking it online only, it typically costs around $100-$150 USD. For those taking it in person or through a combination of online/in person instruction, costs can range from $200-$300 USD.

9. Certified SAT/ACT Writing Tutor (CSATACTWT)

Certified SAT/ACT Writing Tutor (CSATACTWT) is a professional certification program designed to help tutors develop the skills and knowledge necessary to provide effective writing instruction for students preparing for the SAT or ACT. The program consists of two parts: an online course and a certification exam.

The online course takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete and covers topics such as grammar, punctuation, essay structure, and rhetorical strategies. It also provides practice activities and resources to help tutors better understand the expectations of both exams.

To get certified, tutors must pass an exam that assesses their knowledge of the material covered in the online course. The exam is administered by an independent testing agency and can be taken either online or in person at a test center.

The cost of the CSATACTWT certification varies depending on where you take it and whether you take it online or in person. Online exams typically cost between $50 - $100 while in-person exams tend to cost more, around $150 - $200.

10. Certified Online Writing Tutor (COWT).

Certified Online Writing Tutor (COWT) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide online writing tutoring services. The program is administered by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

To become a Certified Online Writing Tutor, applicants must complete an online application, submit a resume and cover letter, and pass an assessment. The assessment consists of multiple-choice questions that evaluate the applicant’s knowledge and understanding of writing instruction, technology, and best practices for providing online tutoring services.

The process typically takes 4-6 weeks to complete. Once the application is approved, applicants are required to pay a one-time fee of $150 in order to receive their certification.

Upon receiving their certification, Certified Online Writing Tutors are eligible to apply for jobs as online writing tutors or work independently as freelance writers. They may also be eligible for discounts on education-related products and services.

Do You Really Need a Writing Tutor Certificate?

No, you do not need a writing tutor certificate in order to be an effective writing tutor. Many people are naturally gifted with the ability to teach and mentor others in the art of writing. Writing is a skill that can be taught without formal credentials or certification. A certificate may serve as an indication of knowledge and experience, but it is not necessary for success as a writing tutor.

In addition, there are many other ways to demonstrate your qualifications for tutoring students in writing. For example, you could showcase previous teaching experience, mentorship programs you have participated in, or even highlight your own writing accomplishments. You could also provide evidence of your knowledge of various styles and techniques by displaying samples of your written work or by participating in professional development activities related to writing instruction.

In short, while a writing tutor certificate may be beneficial for some individuals looking to become tutors in the field of writing, it is not essential for success as a tutor. Ultimately, other factors such as experience and talent will play a greater role than any formal credentials when it comes to being an effective and successful writing tutor.

Related: Writing Tutor Resume Examples

FAQs About Writing Tutor Certifications

1. What qualifications do I need to become a writing tutor?

Answer: Generally, tutors must have a bachelor's degree in English, communications, or education. Depending on the type of writing tutoring being offered, additional certifications and/or experience may be needed.

2. How long does it take to get certified as a writing tutor?

Answer: The length of time it takes to become certified as a writing tutor varies depending on the certification program you choose. Some programs can take as little as six weeks while others may require up to two years of study and practice.

3. Are there any online writing tutor certifications available?

Answer: Yes, there are many online writing tutor certification programs available. These programs typically involve completing coursework online and then taking an exam or submitting work samples for evaluation by an instructor or panel of experts.

4. Is there a fee associated with becoming a certified writing tutor?

Answer: Yes, most certification programs charge a fee for enrollment and/or additional fees for materials or exams that must be completed in order to receive your certification. Be sure to check the cost of each program before enrolling so you know what you’re getting into financially.

5. What type of support is available during the certification process?

Answer: Most certification programs provide access to instructors or mentors who can help guide you through the process and answer any questions you might have along the way. Additionally, some programs offer online forums where students can connect with each other and discuss their experiences with the program and ask questions about their progress toward certification.